James was born on December 11, 1927, in Woodford, Okla., to Emmitt Hill and Beulah (Lindley) Hill. He married Kathryn Taylor on November 4, 2006, in Las Vegas, Nevada.

James attended Woodford and graduated from Springer School. He attended Oklahoma A & M in Stillwater, Okla. He moved to Arlington, Texas, where he worked as a machinist. In 1957, he moved to the Pomona and Costa Mesa, California, areas where he started his own business as a machinist in Astro Tools and worked until his retirement. In 1993, he moved to Springer, Okla. He loved fishing and working in his shop.

He was preceded in death by his parents and one son, Billy Rex Hill.

James is survived by his wife, Kathryn of the home; two sons, David Paul Hill of Irving, Texas, and Martin Eugene Hill of Arlington, Texas; one grandson, Ryan Hill of Dallas, Texas; and one sister, Fay Johnston of New Carlisle, Ohio.

Condolences may be left at www.Griffin-HillcrestFH.com.

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